Results: Our modeling has provided [SUP]12[/SUP]C/[SUP]13[/SUP]C = 85 ± 20 for C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) and 80 ± 20 for C/2001 Q4 (NEAT). These values are compatible with previous measurements performed with the CN radical. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the Paranal Observatory under programmes ID 073.C-0525. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 31 (5 ULg) Microlensing of the broad line region in 17 lensed quasarsSluse, Dominique ; Hutsemekers, Damien ; Courbin, F. et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2012), 544When an image of a strongly lensed quasar is microlensed, the different components of its spectrum are expected to be differentially magnified owing to the different sizes of the corresponding emitting ... [more ▼]When an image of a strongly lensed quasar is microlensed, the different components of its spectrum are expected to be differentially magnified owing to the different sizes of the corresponding emitting region. Chromatic changes are expected to be observed in the continuum while the emission lines should be deformed as a function of the size, geometry and kinematics of the regions from which they originate. Microlensing of the emission lines has been reported only in a handful of systems so far. In this paper we search for microlensing deformations of the optical spectra of pairs of images in 17 lensed quasars with bolometric luminosities between 10[SUP]44.7 - 47.4[/SUP] erg/s and black hole masses 10[SUP]7.6 - 9.8[/SUP] M[SUB]&sun;[/SUB]. This sample is composed of 13 pairs of previously unpublished spectra and four pairs of spectra from literature. Our analysis is based on a simple spectral decomposition technique which allows us to isolate the microlensed fraction of the flux independently of a detailed modeling of the quasar emission lines. Using this technique, we detect microlensing of the continuum in 85% of the systems. Among them, 80% show microlensing of the broad emission lines. Focusing on the most common emission lines in our spectra (C III] and Mg II) we detect microlensing of either the blue or the red wing, or of both wings with the same amplitude. This observation implies that the broad line region is not in general spherically symmetric. In addition, the frequent detection of microlensing of the blue and red wings independently but not simultaneously with a different amplitude, does not support existing microlensing simulations of a biconical outflow. Our analysis also provides the intrinsic flux ratio between the lensed images and the magnitude of the microlensing affecting the continuum. These two quantities are particularly relevant for the determination of the fraction of matter in clumpy form in galaxies and for the detection of dark matter substructures via the identification of flux ratio anomalies. Based on observations made with the ESO-VLT Unit Telescope # 2 Kueyen (Cerro Paranal, Chile; Proposals 074.A-0563, 075.A-0377, 077.A-0155, PI: G. Meylan).Figure 1 and the new spectra presented in this paper are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/544/A62 and via the German virtual observatory http://dc.g-vo.org/mlqso/q/web/formAppendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 47 (7 ULg) New polarimetric constraints on axion-like particlesPayez, Alexandre ; Cudell, Jean-René ; Hutsemekers, Damien in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics [= JCAP] (2012), 2012(07), 041We show that the parameter space of axion-like particles can be severly constrained using high-precision measurements of quasar polarisations. Robust limits are derived from the measured bounds on optical ... [more ▼]We show that the parameter space of axion-like particles can be severly constrained using high-precision measurements of quasar polarisations. Robust limits are derived from the measured bounds on optical circular polarisation and from the distribution of linear polarisations of quasars. As an outlook, this technique can be improved by the observation of objects located behind clusters of galaxies, using upcoming space-borne X-ray polarimeters. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 47 (30 ULg) Spectra of 13 lensed quasars (Sluse+, 2012)Sluse, Dominique ; Hutsemekers, Damien ; Courbin, F. et alTextual, factual or bibliographical database (2012)Extracted flux calibrated spectra of 13 lensed quasars following the methodology described in Sect. 2.1. of the oaoer. The data were obtained with the FORS spectrograph at VLT in multi-object spectroscopy ... [more ▼]Extracted flux calibrated spectra of 13 lensed quasars following the methodology described in Sect. 2.1. of the oaoer. The data were obtained with the FORS spectrograph at VLT in multi-object spectroscopy mode. The typical wavelength coverage is from 4200 to 8200Å. The data concern the following objects: HE0047-1756 (HE0047), Q0142-100 (Q0142), SDSSJ0246-0825 (SDSS0246), HE0435-1223 (HE0435), SDSSJ0806+2006 (SDSS0806), FBQ0951+2635 (FBQ0951), BRI0952-0115 (BRI0952), SDSSJ1138+0314 (J1138), J1226-0006 (J1226), SDSSJ1335+0118 (J1335), Q1355-2257 (Q1355), WFI2033-4723 (WFI2033), and HE2149-2745 (HE2149). For each object, we provide the 1D flux calibrated spectrum of the 2 individual images in the slit. In addition, we also provide the 2D reduced spectrum and corresponding 1σ error frame (corresponding files are named "objectname[SUB]data" and "objectname[/SUB]err"), and the 2D processed spectra associated to the deconvolution, as shown in Fig.1 of the paper. These processed 2D spectra are the deconvolved frame ("[SUB]dec"), the extended component of the flux emission ("[/SUB]ext") and the residual frame in σ units ("_res") corresponding to panel (b), (c) and (d) of Fig.1. A pdf file file similar to Fig.1 is also provided for each object. (4 data files). [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 27 (1 ULg) New insights on the quasars central region from microlensed quasarsSluse, Dominique ; Hutsemekers, Damien ; Wambsganss, Joachim et alConference (2012, March 21)Our detailed understanding of the working engine of quasars is still incomplete. Several basic questions remain such as: How is the supermassive black hole in the center of quasars fed ? What is the ... [more ▼]Our detailed understanding of the working engine of quasars is still incomplete. Several basic questions remain such as: How is the supermassive black hole in the center of quasars fed ? What is the geometry and kinematics of the gas flow near the black hole ? The slow advances in answering these questions during the last decades advocates for new research methods. The analysis of the microlensing-induced deformations of multiply-imaged quasars is one such technique. It starts to be used as a tool to measure the temperature profile of the accretion disk, to estimate the size and study the geometry of the region emitting the broad emission lines. However, up to now, these applications have concerned mostly a handful of systems. In this talk, I will discuss the occurence of microlensing in a sample known strongly-lensed quasars and present the variety of emission-line deformations which is observed. I will also explain how spectroscopic follow-up of strongly-lensed quasars in the survey era should provide important insights on the quasar structure. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 14 (1 ULg) Ejecta around evolved massive stars observed with HerschelVamvatira-Nakou, Chloi ; Hutsemekers, Damien ; Royer, P. et alConference (2012, March)Detailed reference viewed: 20 (9 ULg) The first X-ray survey of Galactic Luminous Blue VariablesNazé, Yaël ; Rauw, Grégor ; Hutsemekers, Damien in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2012), 538Aims: The X-ray emission of massive stars has been studied when these objects are in their main-sequence phase, as well as in their Wolf-Rayet phase. However, the X-ray properties of the transitional ... [more ▼]Aims: The X-ray emission of massive stars has been studied when these objects are in their main-sequence phase, as well as in their Wolf-Rayet phase. However, the X-ray properties of the transitional Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) phase remain unknown. Methods: Using a dedicated but limited XMM survey as well as archival XMM and Chandra observations, we performed the first X-ray survey of LBVs: about half of the known LBVs or candidate LBVs are studied. Results: Apart from the well known X-ray sources eta Car and Cyg OB2 #12, four additional LBVs are detected in this survey, though some doubt remains on the association with the X-ray source for two of these. For the other LBVs, upper limits on the flux were derived, down to $\log[L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm BOL}]-9.4$ for PCyg. This variety in the strength of the X-ray emission is discussed, with particular emphasis on the potential influence of binarity. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 33 (1 ULg)